Around two hundred children and adults who are visually impaired will now be able to move around independently as white canes were handed over to the United Blind Persons organization.

UBP Project Officer, Anaseini Vakadia says the white canes will be distributed to those who are blind and visually impaired.

Vakadia says that their field officers will identify people who need the canes and then this will be distributed.

“These white canes will help those in terms of boosting their confidence to travel around freely independently, how they are locate their location or how they are able to walk around from point A to B using a white cane. Those who are totally blind we use the white cane so it is symbol of independence how we are able to move, so it’s like our eyes.”

Australia’s High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes handed the two hundred white canes saying that this will support the independence, confidence and safety of blind and visually impaired adults and children in Fiji.

The canes were purchased through a grant from the Australian Government’s Direct Aid Program.

Vakadia adds that they have recorded that four hundred people are visually impaired.